Week 1 finals - game day thread Eels v Knights

[Happy MEel]

T

Well, that was rubbish, I’m sure the Panthers feel their prayers have been answered!!!

The Panthers have been average the last few weeks. I reckon they’re in a slump and an elimination final is not a great place to try and find it. The pressure is largely on them.

 

[Gronk]

Losing Jnr would be bad. Marata bad too but we do have Matto.

Hope Stoney is OK.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

It was a good win but looked stressful at times, I feel we won it when the big men Paulo, RCG and Papa came back on the final 15-20 min and grinded it out really took it to the Knights when it was needed.

I'm glad we got over that hurdle and now face a new challenge in Penrith.

I'm sure we'll be up for it. Will be interesting if we have the same team, does Matterson came back in?

 

[PARRA_FAN]

It wasn't pretty but we won. I don't think i will be watching it again though this week like usually rewatch games.

Will be interesting which Panthers team turns up next week and which Eels team graces the field.

No real pressure on us next week at least.

I feel this is different to 2019. We flogged Brisbane that weekend and Melbourne looked shot against Canberra so the pressure wouldve been on Storm

This weekend we grinded a win, Panthers looked shot but people we'll give them a huge change and very little chance for us.

Lets go out there with guns blazing.

 

[Gronk]

Who is this sore loser ?

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

We're $34 to win the comp. Maybe BA just pulled another super secret move so we could all get on and be rich!

 

[hineyrulz]

For me, it was a minimum reward play. We were comfortably in front, doing fine and it was the last tackle. I'd say it would have been worth the risk if we were the ones behind and looking for a play to keep us in the game. But, we invited them back into the game when we didn't need to. It was a dumb play. That's just one of the differences between the good teams and the great teams.

It was a classic Will Smith play, totally changed the momentum of the game. They were going absolutely nowhere before that.

 

[Gronk]

 

[Noise]

Who is this sore loser ?

Tell Gidley to read this:

 

[Gary Gutful]

I'll vinvolve you

You couldn't vinvolve yourself out of a wet Oatleys pie bag.

 

[lingard]

It's not doom and gloom mate, it's just people saying it how they saw it.
Really, we were very average to poor today and everyone has the right to say so.
Yes, finals are never easy, but surely we should have been better today than what we were - against a very poor team.

What troubled me was our inability to score when camped in their quarter for extended periods. Same old same old, as far as I'm concerned. Like Shane Flannagan said, we have the players, but our attacking structures continue to be average at best. And, please, can someone tell me why Matterson was left out of that side? He reckons Matterson wasn't match fit, but then he only gives Cartright 15 minutes. WTF?

 

[strider]

You couldn't vinvolve yourself out of a wet Oatleys pie bag.

they do have high quality pags

 

[strider]

they do have high quality pags

ffs!

 

[King-Gutho94]

Yeah it wasn't pretty but these games are tricky and Parra dont handle them too well.

Even so i dont think we did anyway.

Better for the run.

We did have a week off last week so i am pretty confident we have petrol in the tank. First week back from a break can be clunky.

All pressure on penrith no one gives a shot.

And hopefully now everyone in the media can stop talking about 2001 GF we beat them on old boys day at their 20 year reunion this year and beaten them in a final.

 

[Gronk]

Tell Gidley to read this:

Well f**k me. I did not know that.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Knight played good, it was a tough win!!

completion rate was great (what we need against panthers). Did a lot of good things.

we made 1850 m to their 1400 or so. This puts us in the game next week.

Fergo stuffed up twice for 2 tries and Drown obstruction don’t think was a try.

also don’t discount the conditions, it was hot.

we will give panthers a game next week. Might not win but won’t be a easy win for the panthers.

 

[lingard]

If I cancel they prob be merkins and never give me work again. At sametime I kinda don't care either if that is there attitude.Arrogant merkins

You could always tape the game, you know. Or take a radio to work.

 

[King-Gutho94]

It was a classic Will Smith play, totally changed the momentum of the game. They were going absolutely nowhere before that.

Yes whenever he tries to be the hero it backfires. Just keep things simple will.

I still remember a game in 2018 he went for a 40/20 from dummy half with 3 mins to go in front by 4 and kicked it out on the full. Dragons scored to win the game next set

 

[strider]

Tell Gidley to read this:

so turns out Flanno doesn't know the rules ..... f**k him off

 

[Eelogical]

Considering how we were rated, and considering the opposition, and considering the expectations, that was one of our worst performances of the season.
So lacklustre, so lacking enthusiasm, against one of the worst teams ever to play semi final football.
A massive improvement is needed next week., tactically, mentally and physically.
Seriously, today's performance was rubbish and not finals standard.

I disagree, finals footy is a different beast. RCG lead like a man possessed in defence, Moses had one his best games this season. We were playing with a third string hooker, who did a pretty good job, considering. The only things that cost us dearly were the outlier plays, kick out on the full, charge down with f**k all reward. Of course, our right hand defence is still a concern but i reckon they did pretty good. Ponga played brilliantly on a losing team. Titans took the Roosters to the wire as well. It's finals footy.